Can-drying attachment



Oct. 11, 1927. 1,645,005

J. M. HOTHERSALL CAN DRYING ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 15, 1921' s Sheets-Sheet Oct. 11, 1927. J. M. HOTHERSALL CAN DRYING ATTACHMENT Filed A112. 15, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 1-1 1927.

J. M. HOTHERSALL CAN DRYING ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 15, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1| n 1| ll ll II II II II m I f3 2 Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL, OF BROOKLY N, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAN C011.- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,.A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CAN-DRYING ATTACHHEN '1.

Application filed August 15, 1921. Serial No. 492,574.

This invention relates in general to drying apparatus for tin cans and the like, and while the embodiment hereinafter described has more particular reference to the drying of cans coming from a washer, it will be readily manifest that the invention has valuable application to the drying of cans after various other treatments and even in instances where the excess moisture or other liquid to be dried is material other than water.

The invention has for its principal object the provision 'of an apparatus wherein the cans after washing or other treatment will be effectively and progressively dried from one end to the other.

Another important object of the invention is' the provision of an apparatus which will first remove excess water or other liquid and thereafter dry the resulting merely damp surface. I

Another important object of the invention is the provisionof an apparatus of this character which may be readily incorporated as a part of the apparatus treating the cans without requiring extensive reconstruction or rearrangement of a considerable number ofl parts umerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as'it is better understoodfrom the followmg description, which, taken in connection with the accompan g drawings, discloses -a preferred embo di ment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevationof an apparatus in which my invention is embodied;

Fi 2 is a'section taken substantially on the hne 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectiontaken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. '1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the hne 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailview of a conveyer pulley; and v ig. 6 is an enlarged .top plan view of the drier conveyer arrangement.

For the purpose-of illustrating my inven tion I have shown on the drawing a can washer comprising a washing chamber or tank 11 mounted on suitable legs 12 to form a part of the frame; This frame is provided with laterally extending side members 13 and with a discharging conveyer 14 deliver; ing the cans after the washmg treatment.

Viewing Fig. 6 it will be noted that this conveyer consists of two chains mounted on sprocket wheels 15 upon a shaft 16 having bearing at 17 in a bracket or auxiliary frame 18- mounted upon the righthand frame members 13. The shaft 16 1s provided with two pulleys 19 over which are trained two elastic conveyer belts .21, these inturn being also trained over two pulleys 22 upon a stub shaft 23 at the rear or outer end of the auxiliary frame or bracket 18.

air blower, generally indicated by reference character 24' in Fig. 1, is provided and this has a through passage 25 (Fig. 4) through which the cans are carried by the conveyer elements 21. This air blower consists of a main member 26 having an internal cylindrical flange 27 to provide the passageway 25, an annular part 28 at one side and an outer cylindric flange 29. These parts are preferably all'integral and they provide an annular air passage 31. This passage is closed at the forward end except for ablast outlet 32 by a plate 33, suitable bolts 34 being provided to hold the plate in place. The blast outlet 32 is arranged, as will be noted, between the end of the flange 27 and the inner annular ed e of the plate 33 about the passage 25. e blast outlet 32 is of frusto-conical shape and directs a 'tlzionical blast asindicated by the lines 35- i z 4. The cans 36 are delivered by the conveyer 14 to the conveyer 21 and then move against -the a ex of the blast cone. ,This cone has an arms substantially the axis of the advancing cone so that the int of the first application of the air drymg blast is at the presented can end center. Further movement of the can causes a circular application of air to its end, which increases constantl in radius until the can end edge is reac ed.

Continued movement of the can causes the air blast to circumferentially strike the body and proceed in a circular line about it from one end to the other. The application of air in this manner causes the air to be localized to a small drying zone which is rogressively moved first from the center of the can end outwardly to its edge and then alon the body from one end to the other. ,The b strikes the can angularly and blows or forcibly ejects the free moisture or liquid upon it and immediately thereafter dries the; resulting damp surface.

last

19 will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of-the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages,

the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof. Iclaim- 1. The process of drying cans, which comprises directing air against an end of a can,

andprogressively applying said air in a end of a can, and

circle of lengthen ng radius as the drying progresses until the end edge is reached. V

2. The process of drying cans, which comprises directing air against the center of an rogressively applying said air in a circle of lengthening radius as V the drying progresses until the end edge is reached, and then applying said air circumferentially of the body wall with a relatively moving zone of application from said end to the opposite end of the can. i

3. The process ofdrying cans, which comprises providing a conical jet and moving the can to be dried axially relatively through said jet, whereby the jet dries first the center of the end and then progressively radially of the end and subsequently progressively along its side.

4. The process of drying cans, which comprises directing a blast of air angularly against an end of the body of the can and consecutively about its circumference and relatively moving the circumference of application lengthwise of the can to drive the excess water to and off of the opposite end and dry the can behind said excess water.

5. An apparatus for drying cans comprising in combination meansfor moving a can endwise, and an air blower directing air first against an end of the can and then along its sides as the can advances.

6. An apparatus for drying cans comprising in combination means for moving a. can

endwise, and an air blower directing a blast of air first against the centerof the pre'-- sented can end and then outwardly from the center along a circle of increasing radius.

7 An apparatus for drying cans, compris- I ing combination, means for moving a can endw1se, and anair blower directing ablast of air clrcumferentially about the body of .the can and against the can in a restricted zone progressing from one end of the can to the other.

8. An apparatus for drying cans, comprising in combination, an air blower provided with a through passage, and directing a' conical blast to its axis, and means for mov-' charge a conical current of air about the axis .of said passage, '.means for moving a can endwise first against the and then through it.

10: An apparatus for drying cans, comapex of said cone prising in combination, an an blower having an encircling air conduit, and a frusto-conical outlet therefrom, and means for moving cans endwise across the path of air discharge from said frusto-conical outlet. i

apparatus for treating cans, comprising in combination, a frame, an air blower carried by said frame and adapted to discharge air in a converging blast, and

conveying means for carrying cans after treatment in said apparatus along the axis of said converging blast.

12. An apparatus for treating cans, comprising in combination; a frame," an air blower carried by said frame and adapted to discharge air 'in a converging blast, and conveying means for carrymg cans aftertreatment in said apparatus along the axis of said converging blast and through said blower.

13. An apparatus for treating cans, comprising in combination, a frame, a conveyer for feeding cans after treatment, an air.

blower carried by's'aid frame, and an aux- .iliary conveyor for receiving cans from said first mentioned conveyer and movable past said'air blower. I JOHN M.-HOTI-IERSALL. 

